Plug-socket for electric lamps, &amp;c.



No. 818,791. PATENTED 1411911.24, 1906.

F. J. RUSSELL. PLUG SOCKET EUR ELECTRIC LAMPS, Sm.

APPLICATION FILED JULYI2,1905.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ggf. ,H9/.3. M55/.41.

5 \u @Kmssm 1 www mm@ I PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

P. J. RUSSELL. PLUG SOCKET POR ELECTRIC LAMPS, Le.

APPLICATION FILED JULYIZJQO.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Y PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

E. J. RUSSELL. PLUG SOCKET PCR ELECTRIC LAMPS, &0.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1 2,1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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UNITED STATES PATENT onirica.

FRANK J. RUSSELL, OFNEW YORK, N. Y. PLUG-SOCKET Fon ELECTRIC LAMPS. ae.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 24, 1906.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK J. RUSSELL, a

citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New .York, borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New Y'ork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plug- Sockets for Electric Lamps, &c., of which the following is a speciiication sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to which the invention appertains to make and use the same.

My improvements relate to what are known as sockets for the reception of electric plugs for establishing electrical connections, as the plugs of incandescent electric lamps, extension circuit-plugs, and the like, and are designed to allord a simple structure in which the securing-screws, terminal screws, and wire-inlets are all accessible from the face or front of the Socket through the lamp-plug holder, all the several screws being arranged longitudinally within and with relation to the socket as a whole and the use oil all external or lateral screws being avoided. Hence my socket- )iece may be installed in positions and places that would be otherwise inaccessible, as in corners and structures where lateral space is limited and insulicient to admit of the installation of the ordinary socketpiece with fastening-screws arranged at right angle to the axis thereof. For this reason I am also enabled to apply my Socke-t to a "husk7 or external shell without disturbing or parting the latter, so that said husks or external shells may be made integral and need not be split, perforated, or made into sections, as heretofore, in order to givev access to laterally-arranged screws external to the socket.

These and other advantages hereinafter enumerated I attain by my invention, which consists, essentially, in the construction and arrangement' ol' parts herein described and claimed specifically, although I do not limit myself strictly to the identical configuration of parts shown, since certain modifications may be in ade therein without departing from the spirit and intent of my invention. For instance, the metallic plug-holder may be of the screw, spring-jaw, or any other form, according to the manufacture of plug or lamp to be accommodated, and a modified form of base may be used in applying the socket at right angles to tubular conduits, etc.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is '1t is attached to the face' an elevation of my improved socket applied to a screw-nipple. Fig. 2 is a face or front view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation upon plane, of ine 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar view-upon plane of line 4 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a similar view upon plane of line 5 5, Fic. 2. Fig. 6 is a rear end View showing the Fixture-nip le in section. Fig. 7is a rear view of the soc et-body,shell,` &c.,the base beingremoved. Fig. 8 is aview of the innerface of the base-piece. Fig. 9 isa transverse section upon plane of lille 9 9, Fig. 3 5 Fig. 10, a transverse section upon plane of line 10 10, Fig. 3 Fig. 11, atransverse section upon plane ot line 11 11, Fig. 3. Fig. 12 is an elevation ol the sleeve; Fig. 13, a longitudinal section upon plane of line 13 13, Fig. 12 5 Fig. 14, a longitudinal section of the sleeve upon plane of line 14 14, Fig. 13; Fig. 15, a. front end View of the sleeve; Fig. 16, a rear end View of the sleeve; Fig. 17, an elevation of the core and plug-holder; Fig. 18, an elevation of the core and plug-holder, taken at right angles to Fig. 17; Fig. 19,:1 front end view of the plug-holder and core; Fig. 20, a rear elevation of the core with )lug-holder attached, thc cement filling being omitted. Fig. 21 is a section upon plane of line 21 2], Fig. 20. Fig. 22 is a section upon plane of line 22 22, Fig. 20. Figs. 23 and 24 are respectively front and rear views of the plugholder detached. Fig. 25 is an elevation of theI base-piece detached. Fig. 26 is a seetion of the same, taken upon plane of line 2G 26, Fig. 8. Fig. 27 is a sectional elevation showing the application of my improved socket to the interior of a shell; Fig. 28, a similar view showing a modified form of attachment in which the socket-base is disconnected. Fig. 29 is a sectional elevation showing the application of my socket at right angles to a tubing-comluit; Fig. 30, a similar View taken at right angles to Fig. 29; Fig. 3l a face view of the modified form of base shown in Figs. 29 and 30; Fig. 32, a section upon plane of line 32 32, Fig. 31.

My socket consists, essentially, of four main parts-namely, the core C, formed of porcelain or other non-conducting material, the metallic plug-holder P, attached to the core, the inclosing sleeve S, and the base B.

The plug-holder P is cylindrical in general outline, its inner or rear end being formed with inwardly-projecting flan es p p, by which otg the core C by IOO screws a a. cylindrical 'body .of the plug holder l? is threaded for the reception of a screw-plug of an electric lamp, althou li, as before intimated, thisl is not material, since the metallic holder P maybe formed and adapted toreceive and retain any other form of plug. The flanges p p are formed with erforations p to admit of the passage of t ie shanks of the screws a o, which also .project through the holes c c and into rectangular recesses c c', formed in the back 'of the core for the reception of nuts c a', with which the screws o o enga e. The holes c c and recesses c c are paral el to each other and to the axis of the core, and the heads of th'e screws a a, are readily accessible through the plug-holder P. After the engagement ofthe screws a o with. the nuts c a a filling of cement or other suit-n able material is applied to the recesses c c to insulate the ends ofthe screws" and the nuts and hold the latter in position; but this filling does not prevent the rotation of the screws upn 'their axis when desirable, as for the purpose of utilizing one of` these screws as a. terminal binder, as shown in the drawings, by Which means l. dispense with the separate 'terminal contact-piece and terminal screw '6 5 between the terminals..

' holder l), as 'will be seen Z, 3, and 9.

heret'foreused, since my screw a holds the 'terminal wire w in'direc't electrical contact with one of the flanges p of the lamp-plug by reference to Figs. The peripheral electrical contact with the lam -plug p being thus provided for in a simp e, effective, and economical manner, l next proceed in like manner to proyide Afor the central electrical contact with the lamp or other plug, and this l accomvp'lish by again dispensing with a'special terminal contact-piece and by placing the terminal-wirebinding screw D centrally upon `and within the core C, so that its head d aords an electrical contact-surface for engagement with the central contact of the aip-plug P.

he threaded shank of the central binding screw D passes through an axial hole c2 in the core C and engages with a nut d, inserted in a rectangular recess c3, formed axially in said core for the reception and retention of the said nut, a filling of cement being likewise applied to said recess after the engagement of' the screw and nut. The core C is also formed with an annular collar or flange c4, which surrounds the head of the terminal screw l) when the latter is in position, except where theterminal wirev w is inserted between the screw-head and the core, at which point the latter is formed with a groove c5, through which the terminal wire extends. The anriular flange c4 lessens or obviates all danger of cross-contact or short-circuiting between the terminals and enables me to dis ense with a mica disk or other vform ofinsiiation As shown in the drawings, the i l to the axis of the core eountersunk in the core, so .as

A parts in position. Hence sieger The usual grooves or recesses c c are formed in tlieback of the core C to accom-A modate the terminal wires, and said back portion of the core is also formed with the 'screw-holes c7 c7, the axes of which are parallel c7 c7 are flanked by shoulders c2i c, which are to isolate the heads of the screws e @,by which the core C is secured to the base B.

The base B is formed with the thread-ed screwdioles b l) for engagement with the screws e e. to a nipple or threaded end f of afixture, the threaded shank li is split transversely to approximately one-half vits diameter to form a jawl, by which the male screw on the nipple f may be'pinched more or less'by means of a set-screw b3 for the pur/pose of securing the base B rigidlyl and positively in position. This method of utilizing the elasticity of the metal composing the shank of the base to lock the latter in position is preferable to the old method of using a set-screw impinging against the threaded portion oi the nipple and at right angles thereto, in that the thread of the nipple is maintained intact and incondition for engagement' with other soeketpieces, if desired, Whereas by the use of a laterally-impinging screw the thread is injured or displayed to suoli an extent as to impair, if not prevent: its use for other socket-pieces.

rl `he base B is formed with an annular shoulder b4, 'upon which the rear edge of the core C is seated, and with a cylindricalflange 5" for the reception of the peripheral rear edge of the sleeve The sleeve S is provided with the usual linings, of insulating material, and is of. ordinary shape and construction, except that-at its rear edge it is formed with inwardly-projccting tongues .s s', which when the parts areassemliled fit in behind the rear surface of the core C, which is formed with recesses c8 c for their reception. The recesses c9 c admit of a flush finish or bearing of the core upon the base and also lock the sleeve in position. The recesses c" c" in the core made, l as before stated, for the acconnn(idation of `When designed for attachment IOC the terminal wires are made suiiiciently large to-admit of the passage of these tongues ss on thc sleeve, even when the terminal wires are in position, so that the core may lie wired, if necessary, before the application of the sleeve S, although this is not material in practice, since the wiring, Sec., can be done iiS with almost equal facility after the sleeve is placed in position upon .the core.

By the use of the lateral tongues s s on the sleeve l do away with the external set-screws heretofore made to extend at `right angles through the cylindrical flange if) of the base through slots in the sleeve and into lateral l'recesses in the sides ot the core, since in my construction the screws e e sustain all the .the base B may even be dispensed with if found expedient in applying the socket, and the latter, consist-- ing in such cases ot the core C, plug-holder P, and sleeve S, may be screwed to any suitable support, or where the socket is to be. applied at right angles to a wire-conduit WV, as in Figs. 29 Aand 30, screw-holes for the reception of the ends of the attaching-screws e c may be formed directly in said conduit W, and a base B of modified construction may be used consisting of the cylindrical [lange b5, formed with lips b", fitting over the said conduit W. In either case the securing-screws e e perform, essentially, the same function.

It will be seen that b my construction and arrangement of parts IXnot only gain certain practical advantages in assembling and installing the parts, butl also simplify and cheapen the manufacture of the socket as an whole. For instance, special independentlyformed terminal pieces are dispensed with, binding-screws alone being used to secure the terminal wires, and even one of the screws secures the plug-holder in position on the core being used to efi'ect electrical connection with said holder. Furthermore, the core of insulating material is so shaped as to constitute a straight-draft `casting from which the mold may be withdrawn lengthwise, there being no lateral holes or recesses to complicate the dies and increase the cost of manufacture.

My socket is much more rigid and secure in position when installed as compared with those heretofore in use, because it is actually and directly screwed to the base-piece or other support, whereas in the common form ol socket the core is carried by a removable and portable sleeve, which is held to the base by bayonet-slots which engage lateral and externally-exposed screws upon the base. An incidental advantage ol' my construction consists in the tact that the securing-screws are inclosed and protected from external interference, accidental or otherwise, so that the integrity of the socket is insured and there is no danger ol' the parts working loose and apart from the supporting-base to be suspended upon the terminal wires, as frec uently happens under present conditions. veil the base-piece when used is secured to the ixture-nipple by a'screw the head of which is isolated and protected by the socket when in position, so that it cannot be tanipered with under ordinary conditions ol' use.

While having only an indirect hearing upon the present invention, it is still an important fact commercially that by my improvements i render it possible to simplify, cheapen the structure, and improve the appearance ol husks or like lixture-canopies, since each ol such articles can now be made integral and the installation ell'ectcd entirely through the opening thereof.

I have herein described my improved socket as the receptacle for an electric-lamp plug, although obviously any other similar electric plug may be used in connection therewith.

What l claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. ln an electric-plug socket such as designated, the combination ol a core olV non-conducting material formed with a central longitudinal screw-hole having a [lange partly surrounding its outer end and terminating at its inner end in an angular recess in the back of the core, said core being also formed with longitudinal screw-holes parallel to the axial screw-hole aml also opening into angular recesses formed in the back ol' the core, a central terminalwire binding screw passing through said axial screw-hole with its head within the said flange on the outer end of the core and its inner end engaging' with a nut in the central angular recess, a metallic plugholder formed with internal flanges and headed screws passing through said [langes and through the said parallel screw-holes in the core and engaging with nuts in the angular recesses formed in the back thcreol, one ot said last-mentioned screws constituting a binder for the terminal wire with which the said metallic plug-holder is connected,whereby the heads ol all three screws are-accessible through said plug-holder.

2. ln an electric-plug socket such as designated, the combination of a core of non-metallic material l'ormcd with a central longitudinal screw-hole and two screw-holes parallel thereto, all three screw-holes terminating in angular recesses formed in the back of the core, said core being also formed with screwholes parallel to the axis of the core whereby the latter may be secured to a base, and all of said screw-holes being accessible through the plug-socket, said plug-socket formed with internal flanges, headed screws passing through said flanges and the core and engaging nuts in the recesses at the rear ol the core, one ol said screws being utilized as a binder for the wire terminal with which the plug-socket is connected, and a central terminal-wire-bimling-screw passing through said axial screwhole and engaging with a nut in the central recess formed in the back ol' the core, for the purpose described.

3. ln an electric-plug socket such as designated, the combination oll a plug-holder, a core of non-comlucting material secured thereto, a base screw-holes formed in the core parallel to the longitudinal axis of the socket screws passing therethrough and securing the core to the base, said screws being accessible, through the plug-holder, and said base formed with female screw-thrmuls for engagement with said securing-serons, l'o r the purpose described.

4. ln an electric-plug socket such as designated, the combination of a metallic plugholder, a core of non-conducting material se- IOO ILO

cured thereto, a base scre'-.v-holes formed in the core parallel to the longitudinal axis .of the socket, said screw-holes being countersunk to receive and surround the heads of the screws, screws passing therethrough and securing the core to the base, said screws being accessible through the plug-holder, and said base formed with female screw-threads for engagement with saidsecuring-screws, for the purpose described.

5. ln an electric-plug socket such as desig- -nated the combination ol'- a n'ietallic plugholder formed with internal flanges, a core of non-conducting material formed with holes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the socket, headed screws passing through said internal flanges on the metallic plug-holder and through two of said longitudinal holes in the core and engaging with nuts situated in recesses formed for their reception in the core, said nuts, a base, securing-screws passing through other of said longitudinal holes in the coreand securing it to the base, all ofl said screws being accessible through the plugh'older,vand said base formed with femae screw-threads for engagement with said securing-screws, for the purpose described.

6. ln an electric-plug socket such as designated the combination with a metallic plug-, holder, of a core of' non-metallic material formed 'with a longitudinal axial screw-hole,

a headed terminal-wire-bindi ng screw ex tending through said axial screw-,hole in the core and a nut at the rear oll the core with which said screw engages, whereby the head of said central screw is utilized to bind a wire terminal and as a contact for the plug, substantially as set forth.

7. ln an electric plug such as designated', thecombination with themetallic plug-holder, of a core of' non-conducting material formed with a longitudinal/y axial screw-hole opening at the rear into an angular recess formed in the back of the core and having its front end surrounded in part by concentric annular flange formed on the face ol the core,l a terminal-wire-biriding screw extending through said axial screw-hole and a nut in the said central recess with which said screw engages, for the purpose described.

8. ln an electric-plug socket such-as designated, the combination of a metallic plugholder fjorined with internal flanges, a core of non-conducting material formed with holes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the socket, headed screws passing through said internal flanges on the metallic plug holder and Ythrough two of said longitudinal holes inthe core and engaging with nuts situated in recesses formed l'or their reception in the core',

said nuts, a wire terminal binding screw passing through a longitudinal hole formed in.

the axis of the core between the plug-holder flanges, and a nut in a central recess in said eiefrei core with which said central wire-terminalbinding screw engages, for. the purpose de-- scribed. f

9. ln an electric-plug socket such as designated, the combination of ametallic plugholder. formed with internal flanges, a core of non-conducting material formed with holes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the socket, headed screws passing through said internal flanges on the metallic plug holder and through two of said longitudinal holes in the :core and engaging with nuts situated in recesses formed for their reception in the core, said nuts, a wire'- terminalbinding screw passing through a longitudinal hole formed in said core between the plug-holder flanges, a nut in a recess formed for its reception in said core with .vhich said wire-termical-binding screw engages, screws passing through other of said parallel longitudinal holes in the core and securing it to a base, and said base formed with female screw-threads for engagement with said securing-screws, for the pur'- pose described.

l0. In an electric-plug socket such as designated, the combination of a metallic plugholder formed with internal flanges, a core of non-conducting material formed with holes arallel to the longitudinal axis of the socket, leaded screws passing through said internal flanges on the metallic plug holder and through two of said longitudinal holes in the core and engaging with nuts situated in recesses formed for their reception in the core, said nuts, a wire -terminal-binding screw passing through a. longitudinal hole formed in the axisfof' said core, a nutin a central recess formed in said core with which said central wire-terminal-binding screw engages,

longitudinal holes in the core and securing it to a base, and said hase formed with female screw-threads for enga,jement with said securing-screws, for the purpose described.

11. Inan electric-plug socket suchas designated, the combination with the plugholder, of a core of non-conducting material formed with screw-holes and wire-inlet holes extending longitudinall)7 withrelation to the axis of the socket and accessible through the plug-holder, together with the securing and binding screws, for the purpose described.

l2. An electric-plug socket such as designated, formedgwith a metallic plug-holder, and with a wire-termmal-binding screw extending longitudinally with relation to the axis of the socket, said binding-screw being accessible through the said plug-holder and \constituting a central contact for the plug inserted therein, for the purpose described. y

13,. An electric-plug socket such as designated, formed with a central wire-terminal and contact screw, a ,flanged plug-holder screwed to the core of insulating material'.

screws passing through other of said parallelv Vmetallic rui one ot thc screws by which the plugdioider is is secured to the core constitutingr the other wire-terminal binder, and smid coreI formed .with a flange of insulating material interposed between the central contact and the tlanfres of the )llisr-ioider for the ur Vose deholder, ol sleeve formed with. inmirdly-V projectino tongues fitting in between the core and the buse to which the latter is secured together with seid base, for thc purpose described,

l5. in an rlectric-plug;r socket substantially such as designated, the combination with the metallic plug-holder, and the core of insulating.r material formed with securing-screw holes parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe socket and accessible through the plugholder, of a. sleeve formed with inwardlyprojeifting tongues lit-ting in between the core dnd the h se to whivh theb latter is secured., seid vere Y ng formed with rect es for the reception or Suid tongues wherebiv the sleeve locked in position for the purpose described together with said base.

16. ln :in electric-plug socket substantially such as designated, the combination with the plug-holder, core :ind sleeve, of a base for ottachment to the screw-nipple of u xture,

said base being formed with a. threaded shank for engagement with the 1i:\'tl1re-nipple, the threaded shun-k being split transversely on one side to form a jaw which is threaded for engagement with a set-screw, together with said set-screw, for the purpose described.

17. In an electric-plug socket substantially such as designated, the combination with the plug-holder, core and sleeve, of a base for attachment to the screwmipple of a fixture, said base being formed with a threaded shank for engagement with the fixture-nipple the threaded shank being split transversely on one side to form a jaw which is threaded forl engagement with a set-screw, and said Vsetscrew arranged with its head bearingaigainst the inner surface of the b'ase for the purpose described.

FRANK J. RUSSELL Titnessest GEO. WM. MIATT, D. EV. GARDNER. 

